Pville Community Connection: March Highlights & Looking Ahead

March 27, 2026 

Dear Pleasantville Families, 

As we head into spring break, I want to take a moment to reflect on the many accomplishments across our schools and share a look at what’s ahead when we return.

A Proud Moment for PHS: Celebrating Our Top Scholars: Pleasantville High School recently announced its Class of 2026 top scholars. Congratulations to Valedictorian Sara Agabob, who will attend Tufts University, and Salutatorian Clara Shingler, who will attend Wesleyan University. Their achievements are a testament to years of hard work and dedication.

STEAM in Action: Student Achievement Across the District: From research to competition, Pleasantville students are putting STEAM learning into action and earning recognition along the way.

At Pleasantville High School, our Science Research students recently presented at the Regeneron Westchester Science and Engineering Fair (WESEF), showcasing their dedication and original work. Congratulations to all who participated, with special recognition to:

• Nate Searle, recipient of the Ingenuity in Research Award
• Tung Lam Nguyen, recipient of the New York Invents Award and invited to present at the NY State Invention Convention in Albany
• Julian Jacinto, who earned 3rd Place in Medicine & Health Sciences

Our High School Science Olympiad team also competed at the New York State competition in Syracuse, placing 40th out of 60 teams statewide and earning medals in two events:

• 6th Place – Disease Detectives (Julian Jacinto & Akshay Malhotra) 
• 10th Place – Materials Science (Marco Schares-Suarez & James Vukelj) 

At Pleasantville Middle School, our Science Olympiad team delivered an outstanding performance at Regionals, placing 2nd overall, earning 52 medals, and advancing to the State competition in the coming weeks.

These accomplishments reflect the strength of our STEAM programs and the passion, perseverance, and curiosity of our students.

Watch this video to learn more about how the Capital Project will support STEAM learning across all three schools.

Congratulations to all of our student performers, directors, and staff who brought these productions to life. These performances reflect the strength of our arts programs and the vibrant, well-rounded experiences our students enjoy.

A Milestone Moment for PHS Athletics: On March 12, Pleasantville High School proudly celebrated five student-athletes who signed letters of commitment to continue competing at the collegiate level. Surrounded by family, coaches, teammates, and teachers, the Panthers marked this exciting milestone for Declan Bruder (Baseball, Drew University), Lucas Esposito (Track & Field, Denison University), Juliana Agati (Track & Field, Denison University), Clara Shingler (Track & Field, Wesleyan University), and Natalie Viviano (Soccer, Springfield College).

As Athletic Director Dan Iorio noted, only a small percentage of student-athletes go on to compete in college, making this achievement especially meaningful. Congratulations to these outstanding Panthers—we are proud of all they have accomplished and look forward to what comes next.

Kindness Week Across Our Schools: Kindness was on full display this week as students across all grade levels came together to lift one another up. Activities included “Chalking the Walk” at Bedford Road School, a PTA-led kindness rock-painting event, and a collaborative paper-chain project between middle and high school students.

From elementary through high school, it was inspiring to see our students supporting one another and strengthening the connections that unite our school community. Kindness Week was inspired in part by the spirit of Westlake High School student Gia Gentile, whose memory continues to encourage compassion throughout our community.

Field Lights “Field Trip": On Wednesday evening, the Community Facilities Committee toured the Ardsley and Westlake campuses to see similar field lighting systems firsthand. The visit offered a clearer understanding of how the lights are operated and precisely angled to meet needs while ensuring no light spill into surrounding areas
 
When we return, we will continue important conversations about the future of our schools through upcoming project-specific community forums. These sessions will include walking tours, providing an opportunity to see proposed spaces firsthand and better understand the impact of the work being discussed. 

Upcoming Forums:

• BRS Outdoor Space, Tuesday, April 14, at 6:00 PM, atBedford Road School
• Fields & Lights, Monday, April 27, at 7:00 PM, at Pleasantville High School

We encourage all community members to attend and learn more. Have a question? Please email: capitalproject@pleasantvilleschools.org 

Looking Ahead: May 19 Vote
On Tuesday, May 19, the community will have the opportunity to vote on several important items: 

• The proposed 2026–2027 annual school budget
• Two capital project propositions, developed through a community-guided process
• The Board of Education election

We encourage all community members to stay informed and participate in this important process. Additional information, including details about the budget and capital project, is available on our website and will continue to be shared in the weeks ahead.

There is much to celebrate this time of year, and even more to look forward to. Thank you, as always, for your continued partnership and support of our schools.

Warm regards, 

Dr. Lutinski